Roughly six weeks into the 2021-22 men’s college basketball season, NBA evaluators have formed impressions of many of the top prospects eligible for the 2022 NBA draft, with Gonzaga‘s Chet Holmgren and Duke‘s Paolo Banchero remaining at the top for most scouts. Other intriguing talent, including emerging Auburn freshman Jabari Smith, Purdue point guard Jaden Ivey and the top prospects in the G League Ignite, Overtime Elite and within the international game, are well-represented in the latest version of the ESPN 2022 NBA mock draft.
As the calendar gets set to flip to 2022 and conference slates begin to heat up across college hoops, the NBA draft order is also beginning to come into focus, highlighted by the teams in position for the NBA draft lottery. The struggling Detroit Pistons, who selected Cade Cunningham No. 1 overall last July, could again be in prime position to land the top pick should the mythical ping-pong balls bounce their way during the lottery.
Here’s how ESPN’s mock sets up after the first six-plus weeks of the college season, followed by evaluations of the top players ESPN has recently evaluated:
Note: The projected 2022 draft order is based on ESPN BPI draft projections as of Monday. The full 1-58 order also reflects picks owed and owned.
Jonathan Givony’s NBA mock draft
1. Detroit Pistons
Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | PF | Age: 19.6
Paolo Banchero | Duke | PF/C | Age: 19.1
Jabari Smith | Auburn | PF/C | Age: 18.6
Jaden Ivey | Purdue | PG/SG | Age: 19.8
Jalen Duren | Memphis | C | Age: 18.0
Jaden Hardy | G League Ignite | SG | Age: 19.4
Trevor Keels | Duke | PG/SG | Age: 18.3
Patrick Baldwin Jr., | Milwaukee | SF/PF | Age: 19.0
Jean Montero | Overtime Elite | PG/SG | Age: 18.4
TyTy Washington Jr., | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 20.0
11. Memphis Grizzlies (from Lakers)
Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | SF | Age: 19.5
12. Atlanta Hawks
Keegan Murray | Iowa | PF | Age: 21.3
13. Toronto Raptors
JD Davison | Alabama | PG | Age: 19.2
Johnny Davis | Wisconsin | SG | Age: 19.8
15. Indiana Pacers
MarJon Beauchamp | G League Ignite | SG/SF | Age: 20.1
Kendall Brown | Baylor | SF | Age: 18.6
17. Dallas Mavericks
Dyson Daniels | G League Ignite | PG/SG | Age: 18.7
18. Boston Celtics
Ousmane Dieng | NZ Breakers | SF/PF | Age: 18.5
19. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Houstan | Michigan | SF | Age: 18.9
20. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers)
Mark Williams | Duke | C | Age: 20.0
21. Memphis Grizzlies
Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | PG | Age: 19.2
Ochai Agbaji | Kansas | SF | Age: 21.6
23. Denver Nuggets
Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | SG | Age: 19.1
24. Milwaukee Bucks
Hugo Besson | NZ Breakers | PG/SG | Age: 20.6
25. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn)
Wendell Moore Jr., | Duke | SF | Age: 20.2
26. Miami Heat
Peyton Watson | UCLA | SF | Age: 19.2
E.J. Liddell | Ohio State | PF | Age: 21.0
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)
Nikola Jovic | Mega Mozzart | SF | Age: 18.5
29. Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah)
Yannick Nzosa | Unicaja Malaga | C | Age: 18.0
Christian Koloko | Arizona | PF | Age: 21.4
31. San Antonio Spurs (from Detroit)
Khalifa Diop | Gran Canaria | C | Age: 19.9
32. Oklahoma City Thunder
Ismael Kamagate | Paris | C | Age: 20.9
33. Orlando Magic
Allen Flanigan | Auburn | SF | Age: 20.6
34. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Houston)
Christian Braun | Kansas | SG | Age: 20.6
35. New Orleans Pelicans
Justin Lewis | Marquette | SF/PF | Age: 19.6
36. New York Knicks
Daimion Collins | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 19.1
37. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio)
Moussa Diabate | Michigan | PF/C | Age: 19.9
38. Sacramento Kings
Michael Foster | G League Ignite | PF | Age: 18.9
39. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Cleveland via Washington)
Jeremy Sochan | Baylor | PF | Age: 18.5
40. Portland Trail Blazers
Harrison Ingram | Stanford | SF | Age: 19.0
41. San Antonio Spurs (from Lakers)
Gabriele Procida | Fortitudo Bologna | SG | Age: 19.5
42. Atlanta Hawks
Roko Prkacin | Cibona Zagreb | PF | Age: 19.0
43. Golden State Warriors (from Toronto)
Andrew Nembhard | Gonzaga | PG | Age: 21.9
44. Orlando Magic (from Indiana)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., | UCLA | SG | Age: 20.8
45. Minnesota Timberwolves
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 19.6
46. Dallas Mavericks
Tari Eason | LSU | SF/PF Age: 20.6
47. Boston Celtics
Tristan Vukcevic | Real Madrid | PF | Age: 18.7
48. Sacramento Kings (from Chicago)
Keon Ellis | Alabama | SG/SF | Age: 21.9
49. LA Clippers
Drew Timme | Gonzaga | PF/C | Age: 21.2
50. Memphis Grizzlies
Johnny Juzang | UCLA | SF | Age: 20.7
51. Charlotte Hornets
Julian Champagnie | St. John’s | SF/PF | Age: 20.4
52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver)
Matteo Spagnolo | Cremona | PG | Age: 18.9
53. Detroit Pistons (from Brooklyn)
Walker Kessler | Auburn | C | Age: 20.4
54. Indiana Pacers (from Miami)
Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | PF/C | Age: 21.8
55. New Orleans Pelicans (from Cleveland)
Boogie Ellis | USC | PG/SG | Age: 21.0
56. Phoenix Suns
Dominick Barlow | Overtime Elite | PF/C | Age: 18.5
57. New Orleans Pelicans (from Utah)
Orlando Robinson | Fresno State | C | Age: 21.4
58. Golden State Warriors
Trevion Williams | Purdue | C | Age: 21.2
*The Bucks and Heat forfeited their 2022 second-round picks for violating rules governing the timing of free-agency discussions.
Scouting notes on top prospects from marquee college games and the G League Showcase in Las Vegas
Jalen Duren | 6-10 | C | Age: 18.0 | Memphis | No. 5
It’s no secret the Memphis Tigers have failed to live up to lofty preseason expectations, but after watching the Tigers both practice and play in Memphis against Alabama, it’s clear that Jalen Duren still belongs in the top five of this 2022 class.
After duds in losses to Iowa State (2 points, 6 rebounds, 21 minutes) and Ole Miss (2 points, 6 rebounds, 20 minutes), Duren strung together back-to-back impactful games against Murray State and Alabama, while flashing how his game will translate to the NBA.
Defensively, Duren changed a handful of shots at the rim with his 7-5 wingspan, timing and quick leaping ability. He displayed perfect verticality technique against Murray State and is averaging 4.6 blocks per 40 minutes. According to Kenpom.com, Memphis boasts the second-best block percentage in the NCAA, in large part thanks to Duren.
Offensively, Duren finished several lobs well above the rim and is converting 76% of his shots at the rim thanks to his long reach, huge hands and vertical leaping ability. He created extra possessions on the offensive glass, showing more consistent fight than we’ve seen earlier this season.
Maybe most importantly are the flashes Duren shows as a passer. With Alabama hedging most of the night, Duren diagnosed 4-on-3 situations impressively, hitting the strong side shooter or making weakside skip passes to the corner. He still struggles against post doubles and gets sloppy with the ball, but Duren’s passing is his hidden skill that won’t be reflected in his stats yet should pop in the NBA, similarly to Bam Adebayo at Kentucky. In practice, he made several backdoor deliveries with the defender denying handoffs, a key read for bigs in today’s NBA. When paired with an NBA-caliber point guard and shooting around him on a spaced floor, Duren figures to be a nightmare for defenders in ball screens, given his ability to catch lobs and handle/pass out of the short roll.
On top of all that, Duren’s energy and emotion during the Alabama game was a welcome sight. Too often a selective competitor who doesn’t consistently play with the type of force and physicality his frame suggests, his performance against the Tide was encouraging. Duren still isn’t consistent with his pick-and-roll defense, not yet fully tapping into his switch potential. He can look lethargic at times in a practice setting, not always moving around with much urgency. He’s also closer to 6-9 than his listed 6-11 height.
But as one of the youngest players in the draft, Duren appears to be trending in the right direction, showing he has more to offer than most run-and-jump centers — a key for his long-term outlook as non-passing bigs are a fading trend in the NBA. — Mike Schmitz
Jaden Hardy | 6-4 | SG | Age: 19.4 | G League Ignite | No. 6
1:15
G League Ignite shooting guard Jaden Hardy sits down with Mike Schmitz to review his shotmaking ability.
Hardy has had a somewhat disappointing season for Ignite, scoring inefficiently, appearing disinterested defensively and often looking selfish with his approach. He looked to be building positive momentum earlier in the week with strong performances against Salt Lake City and in the opening game of the Showcase, before completely falling apart in an ugly blowout loss to Austin, reminding scouts of how poor he’s looked for much thus far.
Hardy is shooting a dismal 40% from 2-point range and 27% from beyond the arc, while posting a negative assist to turnover ratio. He’s struggled to generate good looks for himself this season, regularly freezes out teammates and has been a defensive liability for most of the season. NBA scouts in attendance questioned whether he has the quickness or feel to play the only style of basketball he seemingly knows. Others pointed out that his team strung together back-to-back wins and played much better when he and his teammate/brother Amauri Hardy were suspended for two games in Stockton due to a violation of COVID protocols.
While Hardy’s chances of being a top-five pick like he was projected in the preseason are looking unlikely by the day, he still has time to solidify his candidacy as a top-10 pick. Luckily for him, few prospects have emerged in the college ranks and flashed the type of star-potential NBA teams look for in the mid to late lottery portions of the draft, putting him in a large group of prospects with major question marks. It will be interesting to see what type of adjustments Hardy makes as the season moves along, or whether he’ll continue to play the type of empty-calorie, volume scoring style that’s mostly been his M.O. thus far. — Jonathan Givony
Patrick Baldwin Jr. | 6-9 | SF/PF | Age: 19.0 | Milwaukee | No. 7
With 33 scouts gathered in Boulder, Colorado, to evaluate Baldwin against the Colorado Buffaloes in one of his biggest tests of the season, the 19-year-old was unable to rise to the occasion. Baldwin finished with just 12 points on 13 shots, while struggling defensively and crumbling down the stretch of a competitive game, leading to skepticism amongst NBA evaluators.
Watching Baldwin go through skill drills at shootaround, his talent popped. With a 7-2 wingspan, big hands and an smooth shooting stroke, he looks the part of a plug-and-play NBA starter in a 1-on-0 setting. With almost every seat occupied with NBA personnel during his pregame routine, we all marveled at his handle and footwork.
But when the game tipped, Baldwin looked rattled and gassed during his 31 minutes on the floor. He hoisted multiple air balls, gave up several offensive rebounds and got beat off the dribble by Colorado wing and fellow NBA prospect Jabari Walker. Moreover, Baldwin had issues playing through contact, didn’t bring much energy or emotion to the floor and struggled to find the right balance between knowing when to move the ball and when to be assertive. Baldwin followed up the Colorado game with another dud against Rhode Island, scoring six points on eight shots in a 24-point loss, his last chance to show out against a well-respected, nonconference opponent this season.
In four games against teams with a winning record, Baldwin averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.5 minutes on 35% shooting from 2 and 21% from 3. In four games against teams with a .500 record or worse, Baldwin averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 29.8 minutes while shooting 41% from 2 and 44% from 3.
Those splits support Baldwin as a polarizing prospect for NBA scouts. His combination of size, on-the-move shooting, ballhandling and passing ability has a place in today’s NBA as a potential starter. He’s never going to be asked to create the majority of his team’s offense like he is at Milwaukee, which should mask some of his shortcomings in getting by defenders and ability to be aggressive with the ball. He’s also been nursing an ankle injury which could be contributing to his uneven season. Baldwin has never quite made as many shots as his silky shooting stroke suggests — 33% from 3 on 46 attempts. Baldwin’s incredibly quiet on the floor and plays with a nervous energy, making many wonder whether he can make enough shots in key moments at the next level.
His defensive shortcomings are also a hurdle to early NBA playing time. With conference play looming, Baldwin has enough time to get it right. But if his struggles continue against Horizon League competition, it will become difficult to justify his status as a top-10 pick. — Schmitz
JD Davison | 6-3 | PG | Age: 19.2 | Alabama | No. 13
0:17
Alabama’s JD Davison races up the floor and dishes a pass to Jaden Shackelford in the corner for 3.
Even though he comes off the bench for a strong Alabama squad, the point guard has looked the part of a potential lottery pick. Over his past five contests, he’s posted averages of 11 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals in just 25.4 minutes while shooting 61% from 2 and 42% from 3.
I evaluated Davison in person earlier this month during his 20-point explosion in a win over Gonzaga and his 10-assist night in a loss to Memphis. I also sat down in Memphis with the 19-year-old to break down his film. While his high-flying dunks helped him become an RSCI top-15 prospect in his high school class, Davison’s passing has been a revelation this season. He’s a one-man fast break with the ability to spray the ball to shooters, even off a live dribble. He can diagnose pick-and-roll coverages, hitting the roll player in stride or making corner skips.
On top of the passing, he’s done a great job making what head coach Nate Oats calls “blue collar plays.” He’s an elite rebounder for a guard who hammered home the game-winning tip dunk against Houston. He’s still improving his defensive discipline and off-ball consistency, but the tools, instincts and anticipation are there to become a plus defender in the NBA.
Now it’s about Davison evolving as a ballhandler and a more dynamic pull-up shooter — he’s made just two pull-up jumpers in 271 minutes. Teams have darted under screens, daring him to punish them from 3, which he’s not willing to do and limits him as a half-court scorer. His spot-up 3 is ahead of where scouts expected and part of the lack of pull-ups is by design, as Alabama doesn’t shoot midrange jumpers, emphasizing 3s and layups. But adding a consistent pull-up 3 will help steer comparisons closer toward Tyrese Maxey as opposed to Elfrid Payton.
Overall, Davison has made his case that he belongs in the conversation as the best non-Jaden Ivey guard in the draft, and the fact that he plays a key role on an Alabama team with the potential for a deep run into March bodes well for his draft stock. — Schmitz
MarJon Beauchamp | 6-6 | SF | Age: 20.1 | G League Ignite | No. 15
With high-level NBA decision-makers sitting courtside at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center to watch the G League Ignite on Sunday, Beauchamp was arguably the best player on the floor, looking the part of a potential lottery pick in the process. The 20-year-old, long-armed wing finished with 21 points on 14 shots, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals against Grand Rapids, playing with nonstop energy on both ends of the floor while defending former NBA vets, including 12-year pro Lance Stephenson. Beauchamp’s value was further accentuated when he was ruled out due to illness as the Ignite were trounced by the Austin Spurs.
After spending two days around the Ignite in October, I wrote that Beauchamp, “could go down as the G League Ignite’s biggest success story to date.” That proclamation is still holding through 12 games as he’s gone from basketball nomad to surefire first-round pick in a matter of six months, averaging 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 36 minutes. When I first evaluated Beauchamp at a Rainier Beach open gym in Seattle more than three years ago, he was a jumbo point guard with talent off the dribble but minimal defensive intensity. That reputation carried him to four different high schools and a stint at Yakima Valley Community College.
“I had to go through a lot of stuff and find my game,” he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony after his big game on Sunday. “Really just bring that energy because I used to play lackadaisical. I just feel like I changed on that side and my defense, I locked in on that a lot more than I used to.”
Beauchamp will still get caught ball watching or help off of a strong side corner shooter. But at 6-6 with a 7-1 wingspan, huge hands and a newfound motor, he projects as a multi-position defender in the NBA with the potential to impact the game like Mikal Bridges or Matisse Thybulle. He has excellent feet, works hard to contest jumpers, competes on three-quarter denials in the post and is rangy enough to contest for steals and blocks from the weakside. He’s also an excellent positional rebounder.
The best part of Beauchamp’s projection is that you don’t have to run plays for him to make his presence felt, which bodes well for his NBA future. He’s a gap-filler wing who generates offense without using any dribbles by being opportunistic in transition, finding soft spots as a cutter and getting downhill off pindowns and closeout attacks. He’s also an above average passer, showing the ability to make simple drop-offs and kick outs, especially in transition.
His experience functioning as a big guard in those Seattle open runs is now more useful, thus giving him more upside than defensive-minded wings. To reach his full potential, he’ll have to improve as a 3-point shooter, as he’s a bit hesitant to fire off the catch, even from the corners. But he boasts strong shooting mechanics and flashes a reliable stroke in the midrange and from the charity stripe. — Schmitz
Dyson Daniels | 6-6 | PG/SG | Age: 18.7 | G League Ignite | No. 17
Daniels has made the transition of moving from Australia to the G League look quite smooth through 14 games. He showed NBA teams his virtues as a prospect in Las Vegas, having some of his best games of the season, including a 21-point, 8-rebound, 3-assist outing in a win at the G League Showcase with dozens of high-level decision-makers on hand.
Daniels is a force on defense, capable of slowing down smaller guards and bigger wings. His effort level is outstanding, as is his technique, length and positioning off the ball, giving him a ready-made role as a versatile stopper to step into the NBA.
Offense is where NBA teams have questions, as Daniels is an inconsistent shooter (26% from 3 this season) and isn’t a high-level creator due to his lack of strength and explosiveness while being passive and mechanical with his approach at times. He’s made strides in that area as the season progresses and the unselfishness he shows operating out of ball screens leaves room for optimism. Speeding up the release of his jumper, becoming more physical finishing around the basket and ramping up his aggressiveness will go a long way in helping him reach his potential, but his smarts and work ethic bode well for his development.
NBA teams say he could be an acquired taste because of his unconventional style, with his biggest fans comparing him to De’Anthony Melton and Tyrese Haliburton. A strong finish with G League Ignite could certainly put him in late lottery conversations. — Givony
E.J. Liddell | 6-7 | PF | Age: 21.0 | Ohio State | No. 27
0:18
E.J. Liddell locks up Paolo Banchero on defense to prevent him from scoring.
A poor showing at the NBA’s G League Elite Camp last May caused Liddell to withdraw his name from the NBA draft and return to Ohio State for his junior season. He’s responded with an All-American caliber campaign thus far, posting 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.7 assists per game with a spectacular 65% true shooting percentage, while looking like an ultra-versatile, two-way big NBA teams are actively seeking.
At 6-7, Liddell is undersized to play the 4 at the next level, but makes up for that with a near 7-foot wingspan and a chiseled 243-pound frame. He’s one of the hardest working bigs in college and showed off his defensive prowess by locking up potential No. 1 pick Paolo Bachero. Liddell stymied Banchero into one of his worst performances of the season, while putting Ohio State over the top in a win over Duke. He is effective in bodying up bigger players in the post as he is switching onto smaller players on the perimeter by using his excellent feet, patience and length to get in opponents’ air space. He’s emerged as one of the best shot blockers in college, adept at flying in from the weakside to challenge shots as well as making chase-down blocks in transition.
Offensively, Liddell has shown progress, going from being an undersized post bruiser to someone who can push off the defensive glass, initiate out of pick-and-rolls in a pinch, space the floor effectively (35% 3-point shooter) and attack closeouts. His ballhandling, passing and perimeter shooting are still areas to develop, but the jump he’s made has been encouraging. Liddell has moved into the first round of our draft projections and can continue to rise with good showings in conference play and a deep run in the NCAA tournament. — Givony
Michael Foster | 6-8 | PF/C | Age: 18.9 | G League Ignite | No. 38
Foster has been Ignite’s most productive player thus far but did not have a great week in Las Vegas, struggling to score efficiently while getting lit up at times defensively.
Undersized for an NBA center at 6-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Foster’s best production has come in the low post or mid-post area, where his scoring instincts and touch shine. The high, elongated release on his jumper leaves doubt about his ability to stretch the floor effectively, as he’s just 5-of-24 from 3 (20.8%) through 16 games. His occasional selfish style of play and lack of passing ability hurts him in the eyes of evaluators, as NBA teams increasingly want to see a certain level of decision-making from modern big men who can help teams win.
Defensively, Foster looked a step slow with his reaction time, getting lost in space in pick-and-roll coverages while getting posted up mercilessly by similarly sized or taller big men. Foster’s lack of length, explosiveness and agility meant little resistance as a rim protector for opponents. He showed flashes earlier in the season switching on the perimeter or in drop coverages but wasn’t able to build on that in Vegas, where he was scored on incessantly.
The fact that Foster has been playing harder this season than in high school is a positive, but the results simply haven’t been there as much as you might hope. Foster still looks like a candidate to hear his name called on draft night, but he’ll have to improve on both ends of the floor to have any hopes of being drafted in the first round. — Givony
Trevion Williams | 6-10 | C | Age: 21.2 | Purdue | No. 58
0:19
Trevion Williams has eyes on the back of his head for Purdue, finding a cutting Mason Gillis with a slick no-look pass.
A first-team All-Big Ten player as a junior, Williams drew little to no attention from NBA teams upon entering the draft last spring and did not receive an invite to the G League Elite Camp.
Fast forward to the winter and things are looking up for Williams, as his increased productivity has made him one of the most valuable and well-rounded players in college for a No. 3 ranked Purdue team that has national championship aspirations.
Williams came to West Lafayette as a 320-pound, 17-year-old with an inconsistent motor. Now down nearly 70 pounds as a senior, he put on a major show for several NBA decision-makers at Barclays Center in Brooklyn last weekend, posting 22 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals, playing a season-high 33 minutes in an overtime win over North Carolina State.
Still lacking quickness or explosiveness, Williams’ virtues as a prospect start with his incredible basketball mind. Purdue runs a huge amount of offense through him, taking advantage of his ability to make every pass. He is a reliable creator from the perimeter, operating out of jab steps or sharp crossovers, as he is impressive as a pick-and-roll finisher and post player. He’s a magnet for fouls, flashes creativity with his finishes around the basket and has exceptional footwork, making him a mismatch and a one-man offense in times of need.
Williams has also made significant strides defensively. While not much of a rim protector, he’s been effective in switching or blitzing screens on the perimeter, generating 2.4 steals per-40 minutes. Undersized for a center, while not blessed with great quickness or leaping ability, there are obvious questions Williams will face, even though his awareness and smarts should help.
Developing a jump shot would go a long way in increasing his odds of carving out a NBA career, as he’s made just two of six shots from outside the paint this season and is a career 51% shooter from the free throw line.
Younger than many juniors currently projected to be drafted, Williams has put himself on the radar of NBA scouts as a potential draft pick. — Givony
Fanbo Zeng | 6-11 | SF/PF | Age: 18.9 | G League Ignite | N/A
The 18-year-old Chinese forward scored 16 points in 37 minutes over the course of two games in Vegas, showing both what makes him intriguing as a prospect and where he has room to improve.
Zeng gave Ignite a lift off the bench in their win over Grand Rapids, scoring eight points in 10 minutes that included an above the rim finish, a pair of spot up 3s and a block as the pick-and-roll drop defender. With Beauchamp out with an illness, Zeng struggled in 26 minutes during a blowout loss to Austin, missing all four of his 3s, allowing straight line drives on closeouts and isolation situations and struggling with physicality on the glass. Zeng’s lack of length (6-9 wingspan) and strength (197 pounds) showed at times defensively against Grand Rapids, especially on the interior.
But Zeng plays with great energy, staying active as a cutter, crashing the offensive glass and showing the makings of a modern skill set with his projectable shooting stroke (40% from 3 on the season) and ability to attack in a straight line. In order to emerge as strong draft prospect in 2022, Zeng will have to prove himself as a knockdown shooter while improving defensively over the course of the Ignite’s remaining games. — Schmitz